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Mariners' Madeja honored at scouts banquet

Special assistant to GM Dipoto receives Legends in Scouting Award

SEATTLE -- Ken Madeja, a longtime Mariners scout and current special assistant to general manager Jerry Dipoto, received a Legends in Scouting Award from the Pro Baseball Scouts Foundation during the group's 13th annual banquet Saturday night at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles.

Madeja, 63, has worked for the Mariners the past 28 years and was responsible for scouting and signing a number of players, including Derek Lowe, J.J. Putz, Matt Thornton, Denny Stark and Matt Mantei.

Madeja was an area scout covering Michigan, Ohio and Canada for his first 18 years with Seattle, then worked as the club's Midwest supervisor in 2005-06 before being promoted to a special assistant to the GM.

The Detroit native was the Mariners Scout of the Year in 2003. He initially spent 10 years working as a scout for the Tigers, where he was credited with scouting and signing Hall of Famer John Smoltz.

Also honored at Saturday's dinner were former Mariners international scouting director Bob Engle, who received the Genovese Lifetime Achievement Award in Scouting, and former Mariners pro scouting supervisor Duane Shaffer, who also received a Legends in Scouting Award.